The Commonwealth is home to a wide range of charitable organisations. Through a Commonwealth Secretariat led process, eligible charities, including those based in the UK, can become recognised as Commonwealth Accredited Organisation. Accreditation includes a range of benefits to the organisation and provides a platform for enhanced Commonwealth engagement. The charity sector, as a whole, plays an important role across the Commonwealth.

The UK Government is aware that some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have faced difficulties in India due to the strict application of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). HMG officials have discussed FCRA-related issues with the Government of India and continue to monitor developments, especially the impact on the work of British NGOs in India. The British High Commission in New Delhi regularly engages NGOs and continues to support a wide range of local NGO partners in-country, including through direct programmes. The High Commission does not provide tailored guidance on FCRA-related issues.

The UK Government is aware that some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have faced difficulties in India due to the strict application of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). HMG officials have discussed FCRA-related issues with the Government of India and continue to monitor developments, especially the impact on the work of British NGOs in India. The British High Commission in New Delhi regularly engages NGOs and continues to support a wide range of local NGO partners in-country, including through direct programmes. The High Commission does not provide tailored guidance on FCRA-related issues.

The UK Government is aware that some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have faced difficulties in India due to the strict application of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). HMG officials have discussed FCRA-related issues with the Government of India and continue to monitor developments, especially the impact on the work of British NGOs in India. The British High Commission in New Delhi regularly engages NGOs and continues to support a wide range of local NGO partners in-country, including through direct programmes. The High Commission does not provide tailored guidance on FCRA-related issues.

Through our role as pen-holder at the UN Security Council, as well as through our Embassy in Colombia, the UK supports the Government of Colombia and civil society organisations on security issues, including the activities of illegal armed groups. To date, we have spent over £74 million through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) to support the implementation of the peace agreement in Colombia and improve stability and security. We will continue to work with Colombia, including through the UNSC, and encourage the Colombian Government to strengthen the institutions that can improve the security of citizens and investigate and prosecute the criminal actors responsible for violence.

The UK consistently calls on the Colombian Government to ensure that all groups, including indigenous groups and civil society, are able to participate in the proper implementation of the Peace Process and their National Action Plan. Successive UK-drafted UN Security Council press statements have called for the Colombian Government to work closely with civil society. In the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State's (Americas and the Caribbean) high level dialogue with Foreign Minister Leyva during his visit to Colombia in November, he reiterated the UK's commitment to continuing to support the peace process.

To date, we have spent over £74 million through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) to support the implementation of the peace agreement in Colombia and improve stability and security. We will continue to work with Colombia, including through the UNSC and encourage the Colombian Government to strengthen the institutions that can improve the security of all its citizens and investigate and prosecute the criminal actors responsible for violence.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a process that allows states to reflect critically on their own human rights record. As a founding member of the UN Human Rights Council, the UK has always advocated for the UN human rights fora and will continue to support the Council and the tools and mechanisms it uses, including the UPR process. The UK government will continue to support civil society and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) - including in Pakistan- to fully engage with the UPR process wherever possible.

The UK Government continues work to maintain and develop relationships with civil society, including non-governmental organizations within Bahrain and internationally. This ensures that HMG draws on a wide range of sources regarding human rights issues in Bahrain. It would be inappropriate to publish a list of civil society actors with whom we engage.

In August, the Prime Minister announced that the UK would double its assistance for Afghanistan to £286 million this financial year. This will support over 6.1 million people with life-saving aid. Since April, we have disbursed over £261 million and we are working at pace to allocate the remaining funding. On 31 March, the UK with the UN and Germany will host a pledging conference on Afghanistan to raise funds to scale up essential humanitarian support for the people of Afghanistan.

Officials have met frequently with humanitarian NGOs including representatives of Bond, which includes Muslim charities. Our meetings with these organisations form an important part of assessing the changing situation on the ground and how we can address any obstacles to aid getting through.

Since April 2021, we disbursed over £176 million - £166 million for life-saving humanitarian support inside Afghanistan, including for emergency food, health, nutrition, shelter, water and sanitation, and mine action, and £10 million in neighbouring countries to support new and existing refugees and host communities to support regional stability. Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) have been, and will remain, vital partners for delivering essential assistance in Afghanistan. We deliver through United Nation (UN) agencies and NGOs who have a track record of delivering in challenging circumstances. We are working with them to assess the changing situation on the ground and assess needs.

Ministers and officials have met frequently with humanitarian NGOs and representatives of vulnerable groups. They are in regular touch with our partners to discuss the situation on the ground and address any obstacles to aid getting through. I [Lord Ahmad] met Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan before her recent visit to Kabul.

On 22 December, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2615 which added a humanitarian exception to the sanctions regime established by resolution 1988 (2011), enabling the provision of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. The UK government is now working as a priority to update the relevant UK legislation to implement this exception. The UK government continues to work closely with the UN and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to ensure that UK aid benefits Afghans in need while meeting our international obligations. We are providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan through the UN, NGOs and the Red Cross Movement on the ground, who are continuing to ensure vital aid reaches those who need it most. We have made the humanitarian situation and access a major subject of our engagement with the Taliban. We continue to monitor this closely.

We are aware that some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have faced difficulties in India due to the application of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by the Indian authorities, and that some have recently had applications to renew their foreign funding licenses rejected. We continue to support a wide range of local NGO partners in India, including through programmes, and officials have discussed issues facing NGOs directly with the Indian Government. On 8 January, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs restored the FCRA license of the Missionaries of Charity, meaning the NGO will be able to receive and use foreign funding again. The British High Commission in New Delhi will continue to monitor developments.

We engage India on the full range of human rights issues, including freedom of religion or belief, working with Union and State Governments, and NGOs, to build capacity and promote human rights for all.

The International Development Strategy will outline the UK government's strategic priorities and approach to development. As part of a wider engagement process, my ministerial colleagues have held meetings with several stakeholders, including civil society organisations and small development charities; and we have recently closed a public Call for Evidence, which invited views from all interested parties, including small development charities. The FCDO does not routinely run external engagement exercises when developing the Comprehensive Spending Review.

FCDO has run competitive funding schemes through its UK Aid Match and UK Aid Direct programmes since 2013 and 2015 respectively that civil society organisations have been able to apply for. Future funding levels for these are dependent on the outcome of the current spending review process. Similarly, Diplomatic Posts overseas are also in the process of business planning and through that process will make decisions about whether to allocate funding to local charities or NGOs.

The FCDO is committed to working in partnership with a diverse range of civil society organisations and recognises the unique role of in-country local organisations. A key aim of our funding for civil society is to support the capacity of local civil society organisations (in developing and conflict countries) so they can become strong, self-reliant and powerful development actors.

In addition to funding provided to local organisations through our country programmes, our 10-year partnership with Comic Relief focusses on building the capacity and sustainability of local charities in Ghana, Zambia and Malawi. Local charities based in country are also eligible for funding for project activities through UK Aid Direct.

The FCDO recognises that this is an uncertain time for the charity sector and we continue to work flexibly with civil society partners to respond to the pandemic, maintain delivery of essential programmes and manage the impacts on organisations and staff. We have kept informed of the level of risk to the sector by the BOND survey of its members. Many charities have benefited from the existing measures announced by the Government to support employers and businesses and all charities have also been eligible for the job retention scheme.

The FCDO has received a number of MP's letters requesting a response to their constituents who have expressed support for the Small but Mighty campaign championed by the Small International Development Charities Network. The FCDO currently has no specific plans to meet representatives of the Network. However, as an organisation, we attach immense value to engaging with civil society organisations which, like the FCDO, are at the forefront of delivering aid. We will continue to engage directly with organisations that share our objectives in international development and contribute to delivering UK Aid to poor and excluded communities around the world.

Through FCDO's UK Aid Direct programme, we have a portfolio of 89 live grants to small international development charities (those with an annual income under £250,000); who are contributing to 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. As of August 2020, 54 of the small international charities supported through the Small Charities Challenge Fund (SCCF) had reached 197,411 beneficiaries, in 22 developing countries, 53% of whom were women. The FCDO's funding to small charities supports building the capacity of small charities in order for them to continue their work after the funding is over. We also recognise the important role they play in raising awareness in the UK of the issue of global poverty and the role UK Aid can play.

The first round of SCCF grants are currently coming to an end and the FCDO will assess their achievements against agreed outcomes and numbers of beneficiaries supported; their overall impact, the strengths and challenges of delivering projects through small charities as well as the lessons that can be learnt from their approaches. This will contribute to our understanding of their contribution to furthering the reputation of the UK and its contribution to overseas development.

We were made aware of this case only after the pupils and staff from Poynton High School had returned to the UK. It would appear that the group had the wrong category of visa for their trip. This is therefore a matter for the Indian authorities.

We have, however, attempted to make contact with the Head Teacher from Poynton High School, and the Member for Macclesfield (David Rutley). We have also lodged an enquiry with the Indian High Commission in London to try and help the school establish what category of visa they should re-apply for.